Summertide: The Heritage Universe, Book 1

It was just before Summertide, the time when the twin planets, Opal and Quake, would orbit closest to their sun, subjecting both - Quake in particular - to vast tidal forces. It was to be the most violent Summertide ever, creating something that only happened every 350,000 years. Planetary Administrators Hans Rebka and Max Perry had no choice but to go to Quake - risking their lives to protect the others - and to learn, just maybe, the secret of Summertide and the Builders.

Herve Bronnimann says:"Intriguing and leaving you wanting for more..."

I liked everything about this book, the story is good, the author really knows his science, the reader was good - he gave everybody their own voice, and the pace is great - I never got bored while reading it. It is one of the very best books that I have read on on Audible. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Lock In (Narrated by Wil Wheaton)

Not too long from today, a new, highly contagious virus makes its way across the globe. Most who get sick experience nothing worse than flu, fever, and headaches. But for the unlucky one percent - and nearly five million souls in the United States alone - the disease causes "Lock In": Victims fully awake and aware, but unable to move or respond to stimulus. The disease affects young, old, rich, poor, people of every color and creed. The world changes to meet the challenge.

Loved, the idea and the extra novella fleshed out the story nicely answering most of my questions about the disease the book did not go into. The plot in the book is a little thin, but the world is well realised and left me wanting more. I hope there is a sequel our two.

Ark Royal

Seventy years ago, the interstellar supercarrier Ark Royal was the pride of the Royal Navy. But now, her weapons are outdated and her solid-state armour nothing more than a burden on her colossal hull. She floats in permanent orbit near Earth, a dumping ground for the officers and crew the Royal Navy wishes to keep out of the public eye. But when a deadly alien threat appears, the modern starships built by humanity are no match for the powerful alien weapons.

The author has mixed a bunch of old style military tropes from both world wars and further back into a tail set in the future, it is kind of jarring. There is not much character development and not much explanation of the science. But it is a good ride and I am looking forward top the next book.

At the Mountains of Madness [Blackstone Edition]

This Lovecraft classic is a must-have for every fan of classic terror. When a geologist leads an expedition to the Antarctic plateau, his aim is to find rock and plant specimens from deep within the continent. The barren landscape offers no evidence of any life form - until they stumble upon the ruins of a lost civilization. Strange fossils of creatures unknown to man lead the team deeper, where they find carved stones dating back millions of years. But it is their discovery of the terrifying city of the Old Ones that leads them to an encounter with an untold menace.

Sure it's dated in tech and writing style. It's a classic. Once you get past that it's great. I thought the narrators tone and pace were pitch perfect for the material. The writing is very descriptive which I see some reviewers did not like but I thought it painted a hauntingly scary story. Thus is my first taste of Lovecraft and it left me wanting more.

I don't usually do short story compilations but this was free one day from Audible so I snapped it up. So glad I did, the writing is excellent as is the narration. Each story is somewhat related to the other stories so there is a feeling of wholeness about the book. I don't really want to live in any of the future cities we learn about here much but having visited them it's a fascinating future. Parts of the book remind me of William Gibson, and that's a huge compliment.

Blue Remembered Earth

Critically acclaimed author Alastair Reynolds holds a well-deserved place “among the leaders of the hard-science space opera renaissance." (Publishers Weekly). In Blue Remembered Earth, Geoffrey Akinya wants nothing more than to study the elephants of the Amboseli basin. But when his space-explorer grandmother dies, secrets come to light and Geoffrey is dispatched to the Moon to protect the family name - and prevent an impending catastrophe.

While some of the plot seemed contrived and pointless (I won't give any spoilers here) the book is jam packed with original ideas and interesting people. As is usual with Reynolds he has created a fascinating and believable world. In some ways the book ends just when it's going to get interesting, I hope the author is working on a sequal, I really want to know what happens next!!!! Narration was excellent, I had not heard this performer before but will look for more stuff by him. Easy 5stars, loves it.

Great North Road

A century from now, thanks to a technology allowing instantaneous travel across light-years, humanity has solved its energy shortages, cleaned up the environment, and created far-flung colony worlds. The keys to this empire belong to the powerful North family - composed of successive generations of clones. Yet these clones are not identical. For one thing, genetic errors have crept in with each generation. For another, the original three clone "brothers" have gone their separate ways, and the branches of the family are now friendly rivals more than allies. Or maybe not so friendly....

One of the best listens in a while. Even though its long I did not want to leave future Newcastle or the Sirius system. While the book left a few questions in my mind, the story is neatly contained and satisfyingly concluded. The performance is great. I hope there is a sequal in the works or another tale from the same universe,

The story unfolds over space and time with the back story of the main charecture being filled in as a we go along. This can be a bit confusing but makes sense in the end. Well worth the effort.

Caliban's War: The Expanse, Book 2

James S.A. Corey’s best-selling hit Leviathan Wakes earned Hugo and Locus Award nominations. In Caliban’s War, the second chapter of Corey’s Expanse series, a desperate Earth politician works tirelessly to prevent war from reigniting. Meanwhile, upheaval takes root on Venus and Ganymede. And amidst this tumult, James Holden and his crew on the Rocinante are charged with the impossible task of saving humanity from a terrifying fate.

I liked just about every aspect of this book except that I now have to wait for who knows how long for the sequal. What message is delivered in the epitaph??? If I have to make a criticism, it's that the formula is very similar to the 1st book in the series, but this is just a quibble and it's a great read. Loved the new charectures. Please bring out the sequal soon.

Monster Hunter Alpha

Earl Harbinger may be the leader of Monster Hunter International, but he's also got a secret. Nearly a century ago, Earl was cursed to be a werewolf. When Earl receives word that one of his oldest foes, a legendarily vicious werewolf that worked for the KGB, has mysteriously appeared in the remote woods of Michigan, he decides to take care of some unfinished business.

The Casual Vacancy

When Barry Fairweather dies unexpectedly in his early 40s, the little town of Pagford is left in shock. Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war. Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils.... Pagford is not what it at first seems. And the empty seat left by Barry on the town's council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen.

Wow this book was hard to finish. The only likeable charecture dies within the first few paragraphs. Everybody else is so self involved that they can't see the damage they are doing to all those around them. The narration is excellent but does not make up for the general meanness on display here. Also I found some of the charectures motivations to be a little weak.

Leviathan Wakes

James S.A. Corey delivers compelling SF that ranks with the best in the field. In Leviathan Wakes, ice miner Jim Holden is making a haul from the rings of Saturn when he and his crew encounter an abandoned ship, the Scopuli. Uncovering a terrifying secret, Jim bears the weight of impending catastrophe. At the same time, a detective has been hired by well-heeled parents to find a missing girl, and the investigator’s search leads him right to the Scopuli.

Great story, intrigued as to see what happens next because all this does is set up a whole series of sequels which I can't wait to read. I liked the two main charectures found some of the motivations and effects of actions a little overblown. But still rich hard sci-fi space opera, I want more.

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